Novel Acceleration Mechanisms and Plasma Propulsion Applications through Interactions of Ultra-short-pulse Discharges and Matters

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H04203
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Aerospace engineering
• Research Institution: Tokai University
• Principal Investigator: Horisawa Hideyuki 東海大学, 工学部, 教授 (30256169)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 山口 滋 東海大学, 理学部, 教授 (40297205) ; 橘 武史 九州工業大学, 大学院工学研究院, 教授 (50179719) ; 船木 一幸 国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, 准教授 (50311171) ; 鄭 和翊 東海大学, 理学部, 准教授 (70399335)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 推進・エンジン / 高パワー密度プラズマ源 / 高パワー電気推進 / パルスプラズマ加速宇宙推進システム / ナノ秒短パルス放電プラズマ発生機 / ナノ秒短パルス放電 / ナノ秒短パルス放電発生電源 / 高繰り返しプラズマ発生機

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Utilization of the interaction of very-short-pulse discharges and matters for plasma generation and acceleration is considered a significantly novel acceleration regime. With this regime, a wide range of operational modes of electrostatic/electromagnetic acceleration (high-Isp/high-thrust) can be expected. In this study, to demonstrate these characteristics, single-pulse discharge systems were developed and thrust performance with these systems were examined. With our conventional systems, it was impossible to actively control the passive discharge pulse generation after laser ablation plasma generation. To achieve the active control, a novel pulse generator was developed and tested. Moreover, thrust performance was examined for repetitive pulse operation modes, and the maximum measured specific impulse was 8,200 s (at repetition rate of 1 kHz).

Free Research Field

工学